A self-righting BattleBot built in a 3-person team for the University of Waterloo BattleBot Competition. Designed with a pneumatic flipper arm to counter spinner-heavy opponents, the compact bot prioritized control, resilience, and energy efficiency. Reached 3rd place in the semifinal bracket by outperforming more aggressive designs through strategic mechanics and robust actuation.
My 3-person team and I built Brick, a self-righting BattleBot designed to challenge the spinner-dominated meta at the Waterloo BattleBot Competition.
💡 While most teams defaulted to “Just add a spinner,” we asked a different question:
What if winning wasn’t just about offense?
That led to the creation of Brick — a compact, unassuming bot equipped with a powerful pneumatic flipper arm. This arm allowed us to launch opponents and self-right after flips, giving us both offensive and defensive agility in battle.
🧱 Don’t be fooled by the simple boxy look — Brick could pin, flip, and strategically control matches, outperforming several spinner-equipped bots. Our innovative approach and control-focused strategy helped us reach 3rd place in the semifinal bracket.
🔋 With strict constraints on weight and power, we focused on mechanical efficiency, center of mass control, and strategic actuation. The result was a resilient, low-profile bot that could endure and outmaneuver heavier, more aggressive opponents.
đź‘€ Want to see Brick in 3D?
Check out the full CAD model and build documentation here: GitHub – Brick BattleBot
